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To Attend the 2026 CineStory Feature Retreat:
Congratulations for your placement at this high level in our 2026 Feature Retreat & Fellowship Contest during an extremely competitive year!
This is your invitation to our 2026 Feature Retreat. Please read all the information below regarding RSVP-ing.
Retreat Dates & Logistics
When
7:00 pm PT, Friday, October 2nd
to
2 pm PT, Tuesday, October 6th
Where
Idyllwild, CA
(about 2.5 hrs. from Los Angeles)
Silver Pines Lodge,
25955 Cedar St, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549
Who
Writers and industry pros including working producers, managers, writers, agents and development execs.
RSVP Procedure
Invitees will be able to RSVP starting 12 PM Pacific Time, Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Retreat spots are offered on a first come, first serve basis, first to semifinalists and finalists only and then to quarterfinalists as well. To secure your retreat spot, we need your RSVP AND a $500 nonrefundable deposit.
PLEASE NOTE:
There are only 42 available retreat spots, which include the Fellowship winner, second and third place winners, and scholarship winners. So if you are a semifinalist and you are interested in attending the retreat, please RSVP sooner rather than later.
The RSVP form has options to indicate whether you will only attend if you are a second or third place winner or if you win a scholarship or the Fellowship.
Please RSVP using the form even if you won't be attending the retreat. This helps us release spots to writers on the waitlist in a timely manner.
Semifinalists
Starting 12 PM PT on August 15th, semifinalists can reserve a retreat spot on a first come, first serve basis.
To reserve a retreat spot, semifinalists should respond YES using the RSVP form. You then will receive an invoice to pay the deposit. You must pay the deposit by 5 pm PT on August 22nd to finalize your reservation of a retreat spot.
On August 23rd, any remaining retreat spots will be released to quarterfinalists on a first come, first serve basis.
Please note: From 12 pm PT on August 15th until 5 pm PT on August 22nd, we will release spots to semifinalists on a first come first served basis, in the order in which we receive RSVPs. After that, semifinalists will be placed on the wait list and will be offered retreat spots in the order in which we received responses from everyone.
Quarterfinalists
Starting 12 pm PT on August 15th, Quarterfinalists can RSVP to be put on the wait list. The wait list closes at 5 pm PT on August 22nd.
Starting August 23rd, we will offer any remaining retreat spots to quarterfinalists on the wait list in the order in which we received responses.
You will receive an invoice when a retreat spot is offered to you. You must pay the deposit within 24 hours of receiving the invoice to finalize your reservation of a retreat spot.
Tentative Retreat Schedule*
*This tentative retreat schedule is subject to change. All times references are to Pacific Time.
Friday, October 2nd
All writers, CineStory staff, and mentors for Saturday morning's programming arrive. NO OTHER MENTORS ARRIVE FRIDAY NIGHT.
7:00 PM
Retreat Screening/Check-in/Registration/Cocktails
7:30 PM - 8:15 PM
Navigating the Retreat with CineStory Directors
8:15 PM - 10 PM
Writers Meet & Greet
Saturday, October 3rd
8:00 AM - 8:40 AM
Light Breakfast
8:45 AM - 10:30 AM
Workshop:
Writing Captivating Loglines - Groups A - F
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Panel:
Writing in an Intersectional World
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
Mentor & Writer Introductions: Let’s Talk Popcorn Movies
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Lunch
2:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Workshop:
How to Write a Compelling Scene - Groups A - F
4:45 PM – 6:15 PM
Mentor One-on-ones
7:30 PM
Opening Night Dinner & Presentation of Awards
Sunday, October 4th
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM
Light Breakfast
9 AM – 10:30 AM
Panel:
I Want to Sign You
10:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Workshop:
Anatomy of a Pitch - Groups D-F
11:15 AM - 12:45 PM
Mentor One-on-Ones - Groups A-C
1 PM – 2:30 PM
Group photo followed by lunch
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Workshop:
Anatomy of a Pitch - Groups A-C
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Mentor One-on-ones - Groups D-F
4:45 PM – 6:15 PM
Panel:
Working with Producers & Creative Executives
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Mentor/Fellow Group Discussion
(Free time for everyone except the Fellow)
7:30 PM
Dinner
Monday, October 5th
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM
Light Breakfast
9 AM – 10:30 AM
Mentor One-on-ones - Groups D - F
Exercise:
Photo Finish - Groups A-C
11:00 AM – 12:45 PM
Exercise:
Fly on the Wall - Groups A - F
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Lunch
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Mentor One-on-Ones - Groups A - C
Exercise:
Photo Finish - Groups D-F
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Workshop:
Breaking a Feature Film - Groups A-F
7:00 PM
Dinner
Tuesday, October 6th
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM
Light Breakfast
9 AM – 11 AM
Workshop:
Identifying Your Personal Thematic - Groups A - F
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Where Do You Go From Here?
12:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Final Lunch
Why Attend?
For 30 years, CineStory has been dedicated to educating emerging screenwriters about the craft and business of writing for the screen. We keep our retreats smaller and intimate so writers can forge bonds with each other and their mentors during a weekend of unique activities, including one-on-one mentoring sessions, panel discussions on the craft and business of screenwriting, and participatory sessions where writers actively develop their skills through thematic writing exercises, idea generating writing exercises, pitching exercises, and more.
CineStory’s approach has proven successful. Many CineStory alumni have become accomplished screenwriters, including Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (COWBOYS & ALIENS, CHILDREN OF MEN, IRON MAN), Daniel Barnz (BEASTLY, PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND), Lance Hammer (BALLAST), Patrick Tobin (CAKE), Billy Shebar (DARK MATTER) and Michael Cahill (THE KING OF CALIFORNIA). Alumni also have gone on to have their scripts optioned, secure representation, gain professional writing assignments, and more.*
Check out our Alumni success stories here.
*Attending a CineStory retreat does not guarantee success. Writers get the most out of the retreat when they come well-prepared and open to the experience.
What You Get
3 x 90-minute one-on-one mentor sessions during which mentors, who have read your work beforehand, will discuss their specific verbal notes to your script as well as your career path, your portfolio of work, etc.
Over 19 hours of panel discussions and writing exercises on topics ranging from pitching your work to discovering your personal writing thematic and more;
One-on-one access to working industry professionals who seek to educate attendees on the craft and business of writing for the screen.
Please check out information from past retreats on the website. We will also be happy to provide a list of CineStory alums who can answer your questions and talk about their own retreat experiences. In addition, for a peek inside the retreat, you can see clips on our YouTube Channel.
Retreat Mentors
Our mentors are successful, dedicated entertainment industry professionals who place a high value on mentorship. In fact, they volunteer their time and efforts to CineStory for free because they so strongly believe in helping to educate emerging writers about the craft and business of writing for the screen. Learning from them is a unique opportunity that you won't find elsewhere.
During the retreat, mentors will candidly discuss the craft and business of screenwriting during our panel discussions and writing exercises. They will also participate in other gatherings like the awards ceremony, cocktail parties, meals, and any other events.
In addition, you will be assigned three professional mentors to work with you individually in the one-on-one mentorship sessions. Each mentor will meet with you during the retreat to work on revising or honing your script, discussing your other projects and goals, as well as discussing which steps to take next to reach the next level of your career. You will receive the names of your assigned mentors closer to the date of the retreat.
Past retreat mentors include: Mark Fergus (COWBOYS & ALIENS, CHILDREN OF MEN, IRON MAN), Hawk Ostby (COWBOYS & ALIENS, CHILDREN OF MEN, IRON MAN), writer/director Joe Forte (FIREWALL, OUT), producer Nana Greenwald (SEVEN), screenwriter MEG LEFAUVE (Pixar’s INSIDE OUT, THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS), screenwriter Philip Eisner (SWEET GIRL, EVENT HORIZON, MUTANT CHRONICLES), and writer/director Keith Gordon (DEXTER, WAKING THE DEAD).
Please visit our Mentors page for a more extensive list of our past mentors. Many mentors attend yearly, so you are likely to see some of the listed mentors at this year’s retreat.
Retreat Fees
Your retreat fee covers 5 days of tuition as well as light breakfasts (fruit & cereal), lunches, dinners (except Friday night), drinks, snacks, and special events.
Please note: Attendees are responsible for their own transportation and accommodations, which ARE NOT covered by the retreat fee.
FELLOWSHIP WINNER: Free
RETREAT FEE FOR INDIVIDUAL WRITERS: $2,800
WRITING TEAMS: $4,200A
AWriting Teams will attend all sessions, including mentor one-on-one sessions, together.
Payment Schedule
The retreat fee can be paid all at once or in three installments according to the following payment schedule:
August 22nd - $500 Nonrefundable Deposit*
August 31st - Second Payment Due*
September 10th - Final Payment Due*
All payments become nonrefundable on Monday, August 31st.
Mode of Payment
We take retreat payments via ZELLE. Our contact information for Zelle is CINESTORY,INC. with the email INFO@CINESTORY.ORG.
If you need to pay via a different method please let us know in the RSVP section.
PLEASE NOTE: We wish we could offer the retreat for free to each of you; however, as a small nonprofit, we simply don't have the resources. Please know that all of the mentors volunteer their time for free - they do not get paid to appear. Nor is anyone at the retreat selling books, classes etc. Retreat fees solely cover the costs of operating CineStory and our retreats. We are working hard to find other funding sources to create scholarships and defray costs so that we can continue to bring you the high quality learning experience and mentorship that define the CineStory community.
Scholarships
We offer a limited number of scholarships to partially defray the cost of retreat tuition. If you plan to attend the retreat, we welcome you to apply for all scholarships for which you are eligible.
For more information on available scholarships, please visit the Scholarships page on our website.
Please apply for scholarships using this form by 5 pm on August 23rd.
Retreat Submissions & Preparing for the Retreat
By September 6, 2026, you must submit the following materials:
1
Portfolio
A short portfolio, which includes a bio, contact information that you'd like to share with retreat attendees, and synopses / loglines / information regarding your projects. Portfolios will be shared online in a retreat handbook accessible only to writer attendees, mentors, and staff.
2
Scripts / Outlines / Treatments
PDFs of 1 - 2 scripts/outlines/treatments that you would like to discuss during your one-on-one mentor sessions. This may include the script you entered into the contest, or something else altogether - it's up to you. This material is only accessible by mentors and staff. Please note that only feature projects, and no TV projects, will be accepted.
3
Letter of Intent
A short letter of intent for your potential mentors stating what you're looking for in notes, where you are in the project(s) you've submitted, and any other information you feel will enrich the mentorship process. This material is only accessible by mentors and staff.
IN COMING WEEKS
In the coming weeks, we will provide writers who finalize their retreat spots with a submission form to use for filling out the portfolio and uploading the documents listed above.
We will invite you to join our Slack channel, where you may interact with other retreat participants, and also coordinate housesharing and ridesharing.
As we get closer to the retreat, we will also share handouts and exercises to complete before the retreat and conduct an online pre-retreat orientation.
Arrival
Please arrive on Friday, October 2nd, in time for check-in and cocktails at 7 pm.
Accommodations
Idyllwild is a laid back tourist town. As such, there are numerous accommodation options ranging from the luxurious to the rustic.
All writers are responsible for securing their own accommodations. An affordable option is shared house accommodation.
When choosing your accommodation, keep in mind that you won't be in your room very much. It's mostly just a place to lay your head at night.
Getting to Idyllwild
All attendees are responsible for their own transportation.
The closest national airport is Ontario, just over an hour away. You can also fly into Burbank or LAX or Palm Springs, as well as Long Beach International or Orange County John Wayne Airport.
For those coming from LA, in the past writers have enjoyed carpooling as a way to get to know each other before the retreat begins.
FAQs
What does the retreat fee cover?
Your retreat fee covers 5 days of tuition as well as light breakfasts (fruit and cereal), lunches, dinners, drinks, snacks, and special events. At the retreat you will get:
Three 90 minute one-on-one mentor sessions to discuss your script and portfolio submissions, career path, craft etc.
Over 19 hours of panel discussions and writing exercises on topics ranging from pitching your work to discovering your personal writing thematic, and more
One-on-one access to working industry professionals who seek to educate attendees on the craft and business of screenwriting
Writers bear travel and accommodation costs, which are not included in the retreat fee.
Can I defer my retreat spot to another year?
No, unfortunately you cannot defer your spot to another year. Each Feature retreat is tied to a separate Feature contest, so writers earn the right to attend that year's Feature retreat. Thus, you are invited to attend this year's Feature retreat because you placed as a quarterfinalist or above in this year's Feature contest.
Can I bring my significant other?
Although there's no bar on bringing loved ones, this event is designed as a concentrated working retreat for THE WRITER, and there is almost no relaxation time. The retreat day starts at 9 am with informal rooms/meetings and often finishes at 10 pm.
We ask that, if you do bring a child, there is also a parent or caregiver to watch over him/her/they as we cannot accommodate children in our sessions. Significant others are welcome to join lunch or evening meals/events; however, there is an additional fee for all meals your guest(s) attend. Further, your guest will have to follow all our health and safety protocols.
Can I talk to past retreat attendees before I RSVP?
Yes, we are happy to put you in touch with our alumni.
When will I know who my mentors will be?
We will release mentor information by Thursday, October 1st, 2026 at the earliest. We understand that many of you are eager to know who your mentors will be; however, we are unable to provide that information until right before the retreat. Because we are extremely familiar with our mentors’ areas of expertise, we assign writers to mentors who are best suited for the genre of scripts submitted by writers instead of allowing writers to request specific mentors. The pairing process delivers a rewarding experience for everyone and takes a great deal of time and planning. In addition, we often are forced to replace mentors because work commitments arise—sometimes days before the retreat—that prevent them from participating.
To familiarize you with our previous mentors, please see our Mentors page. Many mentors attend yearly, so you are likely to see some of the listed mentors at this year’s retreat.
How many scripts can I submit and will all my mentors read all of them?
You may submit up to 2 manuscripts of the following types:
Feature Screenplays
Feature outlines
Feature treatments
You cannot submit TV manuscripts of any kind, including TV pilots or outlines or treatments of TV teleplays.
The total number of mentors who read your manuscript(s) will depend on the number of manuscripts you submit, as set forth below:
1 manuscript: All 3 mentors will read your manuscript and provide feedback.
2 manuscripts: One of your manuscripts will be read by 2 mentors and the other manuscript will be read by 1 mentor.
What is Zelle? How do I register?
You can learn more about Zelle here.
I do not have Zelle. Can I use a different method of payment?
While our preferred mode of payment is Zelle, if you wish to use a different form of payment, please indicate your preference in the RSVP section. We will make other payment options available.
Contact
For any questions, please email us at info@cinestory.org.
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